Turret probe switch



Mhrch 1954 E. 1.. ROBINSON 2,672,532

TURRET PROBE SWITCH Filed July 6, 1951 INVENTOR. 50144420 A. Baa/40m Patented Mar. 16, :1954 same.

a Y (Granted-under 2,672,522, I v TURRET-LPR'OBE swrrcn U I Edward-L Robinson, Lexington, -Mass., assignor I V to the United States of America as represented I by the Secretary 'of the Air Force Application July 6,1951, Serial No.235,552[

im m-J -2oo+5m I Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

inglturret which has a suitable R. F. connector I providing,a,coaxial ,output fromthe probe. :wgThejobj ect of ,this invention is to provide a readilylaccessible means for taking signals from orijfeeding. signalsnintoa tube socket by means of a coaxial cable.

A further object ofthisinvention is to provide means for selectively taking. signals from or feeding sig' als into any desiredindividual contact of a'tubstcketviaamam-came.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable probe to plug into a tube socket in place of a tube whereby contact may be made selectively with any contact of the tube socket.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a central vertical section through the complete turret probe assembly embodying the invention illustrating the normal operative position.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the turret probe assembly shown in a raised position.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the bottom slotted portion of the turret or sliding tube member.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, sliding tube or turret 6, which may be of brass seamless tubing, is slidably mounted within a sub-assembly base comprising parts I through 5 and 14; this sub-assembly base includes an outer tube I, preferably of brass seamless tubing. A base disk 2, made of linen base Bakelite, for example, and shown in detail in Fig. 4, is fastened to the outer tube I by means of 3 pins 22 spaced 120 apart around the periphery of tube I. Base disk 2 is push fit in outer tube I. Three holes are drilled 120 apart in the base disk 2 to receive pins 22. The base disk PATENT O E has a plurality of'tapped holes into whichfthe various base pin assemblies, described later'in the specification, are'inserted. r

The center of the base disk 2 is countersunk to allowfor the insertion of a flat-head screw I 9. "A pair of Phosphor bronze spring clips I4, only one ofwhich is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are s oft soldered to outerftube I and provide for contacting the shield of a tube socket. Aysingle bras's key 4, of square cross-section, is alsosoftsoldered to the inner wall of outer tube I; fAs-shown in Figs. 1 and 3, eachbase pin assembly comprises a pin 3, which may be of beryllium copper, soft soldered to a contact 5 having athreadedportion which is screwed into the corresponding tapped hole in base disk 2; the remaining portion of 00m tact 5 comprises a slotted contact having four slots formed by saw cuts, see Fig. 4.' The position of the base pins-inthesub-a'ssembly base is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. i

An upperdisk I, push' fit in turret or sliding tube -5, and made of'the same material as base disk 2, is fastened-to turret Eby means'of three pins I! inserted in three holes 2| drilled i apart in the upper disk I. A single tapped hole in upper disk I allows for the insertion of the threaded portion of contact pin 8, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

A hole in upper disk I allows for the insertion of spring rod 9. The latter is supported by the upper disk and fastened to the base disk by fiat head screw IS. A spring I2 is mounted between an insulating washer I0 and on insulating sleeve I I, all surrounding spring rod 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; insulating washer I0 is in contact with the head of spring rod 9 and insulating sleeve II rests on top of upper disk I. A coaxial connector I3 having two bayonet pins 23 spaced is mounted at the top of turret B by means of three screws I8 spaced 120 apart. A coaxial cable is connected in the usual manner to coaxial connector I3. A piece of insulated wire I5 is soft soldered to the inner conductor of the coaxial connector I3 and threaded end of contact pin 8, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In operation, the sliding tube or turret B, which is in slide fit with outer tube I, is manually pulled upward against the tension of spring I2, as shown in Fig. 3, until the slotted portion 20 of turret 6 is clear of key 4 on the sub-assembly base. Simultaneously, contact pin 8 is withdrawn from contact with base pin 5.

The number of slots 20 in turret 6 is equal to the number of base pins or socket contacts. The angular spacing of the slots in turret 6 corresponds exactly to the angular spacing of the tube socket contacts. Turret '6 is then rotated until the particular slot corresponding to the desired connection between coaxial conductor and pin 3 coincides withthe position of ,key 4 outer tube I. Turret 6 is then released so thatit fallsdownward with key 4"enga'ging the desired new slot 20. In this manner, a connection of the inner conductor of coaxial connector l3 to a different "no 1- ,u A probe for a miniature seven contact tube...

socket has been described; the principle of this invention, however, is applicable to any type of tube socket.

The type of connector used in this invention is not necessarily limited 'to" the" one shown in the" drawing. I V Having thus described my invention, what I claim a 1. A .turret probe adapted for use with a tube socket. comprising aninsulating base member having an upper face and a lower face, a plurality of base pins secured to said insulating base member each of said base pins having afirst portion extending above"said upper face and a second portion extending below said lower face of said insulating base member, said second portion of each of said base pins having such shape as to mate with its corresponding contact of said tube socket, said base pins being radiallyspaced about a point on said insulating base member a distance equal to the radial spacing of the contacts of said tube socket, said base pins being angularly spaced about said point on said insulating base member so as to align with the contacts of said tube socket, a turret member rotatably and translatably mounted with respect to an axis passing through said point on said insulating base member, a contact pin mounted on said turret member and spaced from said axis a radial distancefequaljwo the radial' spacing of said base pins whereby 'said contact-"pin will mate with said first portion of said base pins when said turret is rotated with respect to said insulating base member, and means connected to said ccntact pin and extending therefrom to a "position away 'from'said base member whereby j. al-'prdbe"lead maybe connected to said contact pin.

A turret'probe according to claim 1 having in addition thereto means for biasing said turretmember translatably along said axis toward said insulating base member.

.3. A turret probe according to claim 1 having in addition thereto indexing means whereby said turret member may bmoved toward said base member only when said contact pin on said turret member is in alignment with one of 'said'ba'se D EDWARD L; ROBINSON.

References" Cited in the file of -this" patent UNITED sTiirEsPA'rENTs 

